PARIS: French champions Paris Saint-Germain are near to reaching an agreement for Zinedine Zidane to replace Mauricio Pochettino as coach, French media reported on Friday.
According to radio station Europe 1, an agreement in principle is in place between the club and 49-year-old Zidane for the former Real Madrid boss to join ahead of the new season.
Contacted by AFP, a PSG source refused to confirm or deny the reports.
Pochettino has a year left on his contract and led the Qatari-backed side to the Ligue 1 title last term but they were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the last 16.
The club’s Qatari owners are desperate to win European club football’s premier competition and Zidane guided the Spanish giants to the trophy three seasons in a row between 2016 and 2018.
A World Cup winner with France in 1998, Zidane won the Champions League as a player with Real in 2002.
As coach he had two spells in charge of Madrid, winning his hat-trick of Champions Leagues in his first stint as well as one La Liga title, two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and a Spanish Super Cup.
He walked out of Real in 2018 but was reappointed in March 2019 and won another La Liga title in 2020 before departing again the following year.
Zidane was in Paris at the same time as the Emir of Qatar for last month’s Champions League final at the Stade de France, which was won by Real against Liverpool.
Earlier, PSG announced the arrival of Luis Campos as their football adviser to replace the departed Leonardo.
The 57-year-old Portuguese super-scout built the Monaco team that denied PSG the title in 2017 and knows Kylian Mbappe well as the striker was emerging in the principality at the same time.
Campos then became the genius behind the scenes at Lille, helping them build a team that pipped PSG to the Ligue 1 crown last year before departing.
“I am delighted to be joining Paris Saint-Germain, which I consider is the most ambitious and exciting club in world football,” Campos said in a PSG statement.
“I believe strongly in and share the vision of the club and I cannot wait to get started to further unleash the great potential of this exceptional club.”
The new French top-flight season begins on the weekend of August 6 and 7.
A week before that champions PSG will play French Cup winners Nantes in the Trophee des Champions, the traditional curtain-raiser to the French season, in Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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Zidane close to joining PSG as coach: reports
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Zidane close to joining PSG as coach: reports
- An agreement in principle is in place between the club and 49-year-old Zidane
- Contacted by AFP, a PSG source refused to confirm or deny the reports
Teen Mbaye seals AFCON last-16 victory for Senegal to end Sudan’s fairytale run
TANGIERS: Teenager Ibrahim Mbaye scored four minutes after coming off the bench to clinch a 3-1 victory for Senegal over Sudan in Tangiers on Saturday in the first Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match.
The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward represented France at age-limit level before switching his international allegiance to Senegal, where his father was born.
Former champions Senegal will face Mali or Tunisia, who meet in Casablanca later on Saturday, in the quarter-finals.
Rattled by an early Aamir Abdallah goal for Sudan, Senegal recovered to lead 2-1 at half-time through a Pape Gueye brace. Mbaye put the outcome beyond doubt after 77 minutes.
It was a predicable result as Senegal are 99 places higher in the world rankings than Sudan, who were representing a country ravaged by civil war since April 2023.
“We played against a very disciplined Sudan team who showed that they got this far on merit. We needed to dig deep to come from a goal down to win,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.
“Now we will focus on the next match and correct some of the mistakes we noted and pursue our goals with intensity.”
Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said: “I am disappointed with the result, but proud of the effort of my players.
“We played against a very experienced Senegal team, but showed our quality. Despite the result, I am sure the Sudanese people know that we came to this competition and proudly represented them.”
Sudan rocked Senegal by taking a sixth-minute lead through Abdallah, a semi-professional who plays for an Australian second-tier club in Melbourne.
- Gueye brace -
It was a superb goal as the Sudan striker took possession just inside the area and curled the ball over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and into the net.
Sudan had qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed nations despite their players failing to score a single goal in three group matches, although an own goal brought victory over Equatorial Guinea.
A brave save from Sudan goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid on 29 minutes foiled Nicolas Jackson, but Senegal equalized almost immediately.
Former African player of the year Sadio Mane set up Gueye, who equalized with a low shot just inside the right post.
Senegal attacked continuously while Sudan had little to offer going forward in a match watched by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe from South Africa.
The Mauritanian referee pointed to the penalty spot after Abuzaid fouled Ismaila Sarr. However, the decision was reversed after a long VAR review revealed a Senegalese player was offside in the build-up.
Crystal Palace attacker Sarr then scored only to be ruled offside in another let-off for the Sudanese.
Abuzaid was constantly in action and did well to push away a Gueye shot with an outstretched right hand as half-time approached.
There was still time for Gueye to score again, however, and give Senegal a half-time lead in the Mediterranean city.
The Villarreal midfielder side-footed home a cross three minutes into added time.
Senegal introduced Mbaye midway through the second half as they sought the insurance of a third goal. He made an immediate impact, latching on to a long pass and beating Abuzaid at his near post.
The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward represented France at age-limit level before switching his international allegiance to Senegal, where his father was born.
Former champions Senegal will face Mali or Tunisia, who meet in Casablanca later on Saturday, in the quarter-finals.
Rattled by an early Aamir Abdallah goal for Sudan, Senegal recovered to lead 2-1 at half-time through a Pape Gueye brace. Mbaye put the outcome beyond doubt after 77 minutes.
It was a predicable result as Senegal are 99 places higher in the world rankings than Sudan, who were representing a country ravaged by civil war since April 2023.
“We played against a very disciplined Sudan team who showed that they got this far on merit. We needed to dig deep to come from a goal down to win,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.
“Now we will focus on the next match and correct some of the mistakes we noted and pursue our goals with intensity.”
Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said: “I am disappointed with the result, but proud of the effort of my players.
“We played against a very experienced Senegal team, but showed our quality. Despite the result, I am sure the Sudanese people know that we came to this competition and proudly represented them.”
Sudan rocked Senegal by taking a sixth-minute lead through Abdallah, a semi-professional who plays for an Australian second-tier club in Melbourne.
- Gueye brace -
It was a superb goal as the Sudan striker took possession just inside the area and curled the ball over former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and into the net.
Sudan had qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed nations despite their players failing to score a single goal in three group matches, although an own goal brought victory over Equatorial Guinea.
A brave save from Sudan goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid on 29 minutes foiled Nicolas Jackson, but Senegal equalized almost immediately.
Former African player of the year Sadio Mane set up Gueye, who equalized with a low shot just inside the right post.
Senegal attacked continuously while Sudan had little to offer going forward in a match watched by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe from South Africa.
The Mauritanian referee pointed to the penalty spot after Abuzaid fouled Ismaila Sarr. However, the decision was reversed after a long VAR review revealed a Senegalese player was offside in the build-up.
Crystal Palace attacker Sarr then scored only to be ruled offside in another let-off for the Sudanese.
Abuzaid was constantly in action and did well to push away a Gueye shot with an outstretched right hand as half-time approached.
There was still time for Gueye to score again, however, and give Senegal a half-time lead in the Mediterranean city.
The Villarreal midfielder side-footed home a cross three minutes into added time.
Senegal introduced Mbaye midway through the second half as they sought the insurance of a third goal. He made an immediate impact, latching on to a long pass and beating Abuzaid at his near post.
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